I am not a fan of winter driving. I don’t know many people who are. I find this somewhat ironic since I grew up in northern Wisconsin, where winters are known to be rough and the snow plentiful, at least when I lived there. Even more ironic, my father spent decades working for the county to ensure roads were well maintained, especially in the winter.

There were many Christmases where my dad had to go check the road conditions before we could open our presents. We waited impatiently while he made sure the crews were out and that travelers were safe. I admired his dedication but didn’t really understand why this was more important.

When I grew up and started to drive, my dad’s commitment to public safety made more sense. To this day I appreciate the sight of snow plows out clearing and treating the roads to ensure safe passage. It’s a tough job, made even harder by drivers who don’t yield to the plow operators and drive too close or try to maneuver around them. The consequences are not worth the risk.

So, put the phone down, turn on your headlines (Minnesota law requires motorists to turn on their headlights when it’s snowing or at any other time when weather conditions impair visibility), and SLOW DOWN. We all have places to go, and we all want to get their safely. And a heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated snow plow drivers, emergency responders, tow truck drivers and supervisors like my dad who work so hard to make the roads drivable again.